Men’s 1st Team

UEA STRIKE LATE ON TO SECURE A HARD-EARNED VICTORY AGAINST A BRAVE NEWMARKET SIDE

UEA came from behind to record a 3-2 victory to cancel out a Simon Donald brace.
It was top of the league, who predictably started the game in determined fashion, and it was them who looked the more likely to score as Iain Robinson saved twice from close range with another effort dragged wide from around five yards out.

Although the hosts were enjoying plenty of possession, with Robinson called into action several times in the first half, they were unable to break a solid away side who executed their ‘half court press’ tactics excellently, marshalled by a back line of Wilson, Newnes, Harrington and Jenkins, limiting their opponents to just a few meaningful shots.

The visitors were almost the first to draw blood, as Alex Andreou tried his luck from a tight angle, with a rasping, powerful strike that forced an important save.
Newmarket had been competent defensively and posed the occasional threat, which was the story for the opening 35 minutes, and enough to merit their first half efforts.

UEA looked frustrated after the break as they struggled to find the back of the net. Shortly into the second half, Ollie Wade was guilty of a glaring miss as he swept a shot against the post from eight yards out. But they eventually capitalised through Simon Donald, who spurned a glorious chance the previous week when being one on one with keeper, to give Newmarket the lead. His goal came after Darren Jenkins initiated a lightening counter attack, as he found Donald in the middle of the park, who again beat two players to go one of one with the keeper and slot just between the keepers’ legs.1-0.

The hosts soon levelled however, shortly after both Jordan Newnes was given a green card for a mis-timed challenge, and Alex Andreou for deliberately breaking down play, leaving Newmarket with only 9 men as both players served a two-minute suspension. UEA used this to their advantage, as they found an unmarked forward at the centre spot who calmly put the ball into the back of the net. 1-1.

Continuing to work hard and pounce at every opportunity, it was Newmarket that went ahead again, this time through a short corner as a fumbled straight strike was picked up by Donald who doubled his tally as he slammed the ball against the back board. 2-1. UEA quickly clawed their way back into the match however, also through a short corner, as the ball was slapped from outside the D, apparently taking the slightest of touches inside the D, and levelling the scores once more as the ball crept in at the far post. 2-2.

UEA looked like they were heading for their first draw of the season, but Newmarket were very unlucky to be reduced to 9 men again as Wilson saw yellow, and Ollie Wade green, opening the field once more for the home side, who were now overloading the final third, scoring a late winner from close range. 3-2.

Skelton was unfortunate to squander a golden chance late on, as he was set up by Andreou with an inch perfect cross, but his brilliant deflection hit the inside of post and the rebound was cleared by a defender to end the game.

It was a shaky result for table toppers UEA, and Newmarket left the pitch with their heads held high as they worked incredibly hard, playing large parts of the game with just 9 men on the pitch, and they probably deserved more from the game.

Ladies’ 3rd Team

In another week which saw unavailability hitting the lady sides, Newmarket ladies third side managed to scramble an 11th man at the 11th hour, with one of the team unavailable. 4 of the 11 man squad had already played a game prior to this too. The game was mostly uneventful for the first half as Newmarket defended well and Wisbech put in a strong attack in the midfield. With the score 0-0 at half-time, town started the second half with a couple of changes.

The second half started consistent with the first half, and it was only in the latter part of the second-half that finally some action took place. Faye Andreou stepped up through midfield to play the ball into the D to find char Abbersteen and break the stalemate, slotting in the first for Newmarket. Shortly after that similar play saw Vicky Benedikz initiate an attack to find char Abbersteen again for her second of the day.

Final score two nil win to Newmarket making this is the ladies fifth win out of seven games. Some very strong performances during the game in a squad that really plays well together and knows how to play to their own strengths.

Squad: Mel Podd (captain) Sarah Ganiford, Jane Dryland, Janie Harrington, Bea jones, Charlotte Abbersteen, Vicky Benedikz, Dev Kennedy, Faye Andreou, Jess Boyle, Megan Pithers.

Man of the match was Faye Andreou
Teddy awarded to Janie Harrington for a fall over.

Next week sees the ladies take on city 6s away.

Men’s 1st Team

NEWMARKET 2-3 HARLESTON MAGPIES

Harleston Magpies scored a late winner as they came from behind to snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory at Newmarket on Saturday.

Unable to cope with the pace and power, Harleston were fortunate not to concede inside the first 10 minutes as Ollie Wade fired a low drag flick straight at former Newmarket favourite Chris Routs, now playing in goal for the visitors.

After some quick counter attacking hockey, Newmarket opened the scoring at the far post when Michael Skelton latched onto Rob Green’s low delivery from just outside the D after some good work from Wade. Harleston were level five minutes later through a well worked short corner routine as a young striker neatly slotted past a wrong footed Iain Robinson. Newmarket’s rearguard of Newnes, Wilson, Jenkins, Frost and Podd restricted their opponents to just a few meaningful efforts in the first half but with the game remaining finely poised, Newnes soon made his presence known as he put his body on the line to make a goal line clearance.

Chris Leggett and Matthew Holden linked up well in the opposition area to set up a free running Simon Donald inside the D, to go one on one with the keeper, but he unfortunately skewed his shot off the back line. Just before half-time however, Newmarket again took the lead their pressure had deserved, as a straight strike short corner was deflected onto a defenders foot on the line, resulting in a penalty flick, which was confidentially converted by captain Wilson.

As the second half started, Robinson bailed the home side out on two occasions in quick succession: thwarting a near-post slap hit and tipping a dangerous shot over the bar as the visitors piled the pressure on before the hour. The home side did have chances of their own to put further daylight between them and Harleston, as Skelton squared a ball past the keeper to Green but only for him to spoon his shot wide.

Magpies’s relentless attacking prowess finally told as an unmarked midfielder drove to the top of the D, striking the ball into the ground, with the resulting effort bobbling over an already committed Robinson and levelling the scores once more. Newmarket came within minutes of securing a credible point, but it was Harleston who scored again through another short corner, as the ball was fed to a player waiting at the penalty spot who smashed the ball home into the bottom left corner. 3-2.

Ladies’ 3rd Team

Newmarket’s ladies found themselves under pressure from the start of the game, with much time being spent defending our D. Through the keen skills and diligence displayed via keeper Jess Boyle and defenders Sarah Ganiford, Vicky Benedikz and Janie Harrington, Sudbury were unrewarded for their efforts.
Newmarket broke the scoring early with a trademark cross from Jane Dryland to find Charlotte Abbesteen on the p-spot who deftly slipped the ball around the keeper.
A long corner for market saw Georgia Atherton slip to Captain Mel Podd at left wing, shot hard into the D to find Cha Wombwell with her back at left post and the keeper directly squared up behind her. Cha Wombwell coolie played the ball around to left to find Bea Jones with the mostly open goal who keenly slotted Newmarket’s 2nd.
The second half saw Sudbury working extremely hard to try and claw their way back into the game. Their only sure fire opportunity came as a p-flick was awarded after a foot stopped a goal line headed strike. Converting the penalty took the score late into the game as a 2-1 win for Newmarket
The ladies were very pleased with their outing and happy to take the 3 points. It was a game won through teamwork. Janie “the foot” Harrington picked up man of the match for her stirling defence work, despite some serious foot ailments.
Next week sees the ladies take on Wisbech at home at 1-30pm.

Men’s 1st Team

FIRST HALF DOUBLE HANDS HOME SIDE A SCRAPPY WIN

The opening 20 minutes didn’t provide many chances for either side as both teams searched for an opening. But with the game becoming increasingly stretched, IES broke the deadlock after centre back Newnes’s fumbled attempt to intercept a through ball, fell straight to the attacker who calmly slotted past goalkeeper Robinson.

The second goal soon followed minutes later from a short corner as the ball was fizzed to an unmarked forward at the near post to deflect into the roof of the net and double the hosts lead.

Newmarket, without a win since the second game of the season, did however grab a late first half goal to give the visitors hope of a revival. Man of the match Ollie Wade orchestrated the goal, beating two players inside the D, cutting the ball back to Podd, who slotted it into an open goal!

Newmarket dominated the second period, as they flew out the blocks right from the off, but IES defended purposefully. The visitors saw many chances squandered as a Donald effort from just inside the D was charged down, Skelton was then also denied by a fine block, as well as several Holden shots straight at an impressive IES goalkeeper.

The only downside to Newmarket’s play was that they weren’t able to find the back of the net again, with the home side just about hanging on. However they did almost net that second goal on the stroke of full time, as captain Wilson picked out an unmarked Podd at the far post, but he wasn’t able to get his stick down quick enough to deflect the ball into the net.

Newmarket Men’s 3 – Division 6NE (S)

Newmarket M3s took 10 minutes to settle into their rhythm after which they scored two slick short corner goals courtesy of our one day wonder and man of the match Alwyn Robinson,  Bury knocked one in in the second half, but for 60 mins the M3s were excellent. However as Confucius said “Hockey is a game of 70 minutes”. After 6 minutes Newmarket had been 3 goals down, so the final score was 4v2 to a team expecting promotion. As always there were many positives, but a win is both needed and expected next week against Bury 7s.

Newmarket Ladies’ 2s – Division 4NW

Newmarket Ladies 2s hosted St Ives 3, but were not complacent. The workings of the league meant that the opposition had met everyone we haven’t yet, last season the teams were very evenly matched so Captain Zoe Bailey knew this would not be an easy game between 2nd and 9th that the league table implied.

Newmarket started well, driving into St Ives half from the whistle but frustrated by St Ives’ keeper and the seemingly reduced width of the goals, until Emma “Welshy” Russell-Price intercepted a defence pass and found Georgia Atherton just left of penalty spot to put town at an advantage.

1-0 is not much safety net and at half time, the team were urged to pass, talk and believe in themselves.

The second half resulted in a lot of action in Newmarket’s half, St Ives seeming to pick their passes more successfully, and working well in their diamond formation. Younger players Megan Pithers and Sarah McGowan proved their mettle in their first games for L2, battling well in midfield. Town’s 2nd goal came when Sam Brooke, supporting an attack on the left from Laura Exell, tipped the ball just into the D and struck soundly beyond the reach of the keeper’s right foot.

Next week L2 travel to Cambridge to Wilberforce Road’s new pitches, meeting Cambs City 5: this also promises to be a close match, they sit below us in the league only by goal difference.

Newmarket Ladies’ 3s – Division 5NW(S)

The ladies 3rd XI headed out early Saturday morning, leaving Newmarket at 8:15am for one of their furthest away game travels, to Bedford to play Huntingdon 2nd IX.

Between the country roads, tractors and players making the school girl error of assuming that Huntingdon HC play in Huntingdon, arrival times were somewhat staggered.

Captain Mel Podd expecting that the earlier start and long drive would leave players half asleep, arrived with sugary treats, how-ever the uptake was poor.

With high player unavailability, the team for the day comprised of 11, including several ladies from the 4th team and an injured player who can’t run.  The ladies started off sluggishly, with little oomph, which Hunts quickly clocked and tried to capitalise on.  For the first 15 mins, Newmarket’s game had all the features of a cruise on the titanic.  Between luck and some great goalie skills from Victoria Black, Newmarket survived several attacks in the D, including a short corner given for no apparent reason.

Position changes had to be made on fly, as 11th man Kat Allen suffered with shin splits, and became the 2nd “no running” player in the 11 man squad.

With the team finally waking up towards half time, and a good half time chat, the team started the 2nd half a lot stronger and feeling relieved that the score was still 0-0.

Now Newmarket began to really take control of the game, and began to dominate play.  With good old passing and superb crosses being put into the D by Georgia Atherton, Alisha Vale was first to hit the backboards in the game to take Newmarket 1-0 up.  In a similar move, Atherton found Emily Sargeant at the far post for the 2nd.  Town really did dominate the second half, and had plenty of other good attacking play, and shots on goal.

Captain Mel Podd was very please to take the win, after some challenges in availability and line-up, and very encouraged with the play.  The only challenge is how to get us to play as well in the first half of a game as we do in the second!

Man of the match went to Jane Dryland, who works tirelessly till the very last minute, and this week was no exception.

Teddy was awarded to Victoria Black who now knows she can play a cracking game in goal with only a 5 minute warm-up before pushback!

Next week sees the ladies at home to face Ely 2s.

Week 2 Fixtures

Date	Event	Time/Results	League	Venue	Article
2018-09-29 10:00:2729/09/2018	St Neots 4 vs Ladies’ 2nd Team	0 - 5	East Women's League Division 4NW(S)	Longsands Academy	Recap
2018-09-29 11:00:3829/09/2018	Ladies’ 3rd Team vs St Ives 4	0 - 1	East Women's League Division 5NW(S)	Newmarket Leisure Centre	Recap
2018-09-29 13:00:0629/09/2018	Ladies’ 1st Team vs Spalding 1	2 - 1	East Women's League Division 2NW	Newmarket Leisure Centre	Recap
2018-09-29 13:00:4129/09/2018	UEA 2 vs Men’s 1st Team	1 - 2	East Men's League Division 3NE	UEA HC Astro	Recap
2018-09-29 13:30:2629/09/2018	Harleston Magpies 6 vs Men’s 3rd Team	5 - 0	East Men's League Division 6NE(S)	Harleston Magpies Hockey Club	Recap
2018-09-29 15:00:1329/09/2018	Men’s 2nd Team vs Norwich City 5	1 - 2	East Men's League Division 4NE	Newmarket Leisure Centre	Recap
2018-09-29 16:00:1629/09/2018	Cambridge City 6 vs Ladies’ 4th Team	10 - 0	East Women's League Division 5NW(S)	Cambridge University HC Astro	Recap

Men’s 1st Team Report

UEA Men’s Second XI 1 – 2 Newmarket Men’s First XI

Team: Iain Robinson, Darren Jenkins, Jordan Newnes, Andrew Baker, Peter Sargeant, Rory Podd, William Jack Wilson, Chris Leggett, William Frost, Mike Landshoff, Matthew Holden.

Goalscorers: Wilson x 2

Following on from last week’s defeat at Newmarket squad was depleted and called on the youth from the second team in Baker, Sargent and Landshoff. We worked out their combined age to be 217, which seemed high but fortunately Dianne Abbott was on hand to vouch for our sums accuracy. When you chucked in veterans Wilson and Holden, it was like Dad’s army were going over the top. The quintet combined age alone probably exceeded the opposition’s team and their three man bench.

In the brief warm up that skipper Wilson’s punctuality allowed, the team discussed the tactics they’d like to implement. That went out the window after 5 minutes when the otherwise dependable Sargeant sent the young, athletic, pacy, skilful UEA forward in on goal, he beat Robinson (for the only time today) in nets to hand UEA the lead. Did I mentioned they were young….

Newmarket didn’t let their heads drop and picked up where they left off, both Rory Podd and Will Frost were outstanding on right and left midfield respectively playing with a level of discipline when out of possession which belied their tender years, providing plenty of cover for their full backs which meant Newmarket were consistently winning back possession.

Newmarket equalised when Holden won the first of many penalty corners, it wasn’t the slickest of routines, the drag and stop could have been better, but Wilson’s mishit strike deflected of the number 1 runner, wrong footing the keeper and pulling Newmarket level.

Newmarket started to grow in confidence, Landshoff worked hard and used the ball in the middle well and enable Leggett and Wilson to control the game when in possession. Newnes and Andy Baker marshalled the defence well Jenkins was always an outlet on the right. With 10 minutes or so remaining in the first half Podd almost put Newmarket in front, controlling sharply and sending a thunderous drive towards the bottom right corner which the UEA keeper somehow scrabbled round the post.

Holden’s intelligent, some might even say wise, movement caused UEA problems and he won a second penalty corner, having learnt from the first it was executed to perfection, Wilson’s strike slamming against the backboard. The half finished 2-1.

In the second half UEA continued to dominate but squander possession, on one rare occasion they did manage to penetrate the D and win a penalty corner, but Sargeant was there to make amends a pulled of a great goal line save to preserve the lead. Newmarket forced another couple on penalty corners themselves through the mercurial Holden, with UEA making a fine block from one of them, to stop Newmarket grabbing a third.

This was a hugely promising performance from a team that hadn’t played together before, the formation meant that Robinson had little to do other than to help marshal his defence. With many players unavailable today, it’ll pose problems for Captain Wilson ahead of next week’s game at home to Norwich Dragons. The match is 3pm at the Leisure Centre, as ever supporters are very welcome.

Ladies’ 2nd Team Report

View results for all teams.

Week 1 Home Games

Date	Event	Time/Results	League	Venue	Article
2018-09-22 10:30:3522/09/2018	Ladies’ 4th Team vs Bury St Edmunds 4	2 - 4	East Women's League Division 5NW(S)	Newmarket Leisure Centre	Recap
2018-09-22 12:00:1822/09/2018	Men’s 3rd Team vs I-ES 6	1 - 5	East Men's League Division 6NE(S)	Newmarket Leisure Centre	Recap
2018-09-22 13:30:5522/09/2018	Ladies’ 2nd Team vs Cambridge South 3	2 - 1	East Women's League Division 4NW(S)	Newmarket Leisure Centre	Recap
2018-09-22 15:00:0322/09/2018	Men’s 1st Team vs North Norfolk 1	2 - 5	East Men's League Division 3NE	Newmarket Leisure Centre	Recap

Week 1 Away Games

Date	Event	Time/Results	League	Venue	Article
2018-09-22 11:00:5322/09/2018	Ely City 3 vs Ladies’ 3rd Team	0 - 1	East Women's League Division 5NW(S)	Ely College	Recap
2018-09-22 12:00:3822/09/2018	I-ES 4 vs Men’s 2nd Team	6 - 0	East Men's League Division 4NE	Ipswich School Sports Centre	Recap
2018-09-22 12:30:4622/09/2018	St Ives 2 vs Ladies’ 1st Team	3 - 1	East Women's League Division 2NW	One Leisure Outdoor Centre	Recap

Men’s 3rd Team Report

The M3s kicked off their season with a 1v5 defeat to one of the league favourites. The size of the defeat was harsh on us as we dominated the first 25 minutes, but failed to get the ball in the back of the net. Peter Booth bagged his first of the season in the second half and there was plenty of good play going forward for Newmarket to build on.

Ladies’ 3rd Team Report

The ladies set off for their first match of the season in high spirits. The game was heavily dominated by Newmarket however goals were hard to come by despite plenty of opportunities and strikes taken. Half time saw the score still at 0-0. The second half started as the first, with capt Mel Podd starting to get a little concerned with the teams inability to put a ball over the line. A long corner saw capt Mel Podd pick up the ball just inside the D, and with her back to goal put in a welly of a hit powered by sheer frustration, finally found the mark to put the ladies 1-0 up. For a first team outing the ladies were very happy to take the win in a game that could have easily had a score of 5-0, were it not for the sterling defence work showed by Ely. Man of match went to junior Robyn Henry jones for her nonstop outstanding play all game. Jane Dryland took home the teddy. Next week sees the ladies at home at 11am against st ives.